ALL BLACKS RETURN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 August 1938, Page 8

ALL BLACKS RETURN

BRINGING THE BLEDISLOE CUP IMPRESSIONS OF AUSTRALIAN TOUR YOUNG PLAYERS TOUCH HIGH STANDARDS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The All Blacks returned by the Awatea, and with them they brought the massiye Bledisloe Cup. “The tour was one of the most pleasurable than can ever be conceived,” said Dr Adams (co-manager), and the Australian authorities have expressed themselves very appreciatively of the team’s efforts.” He said the members of the team were very popular from a football point of view, and socially.

Australian Rugby was quite up to its average standard, with perhaps an advantage in many promising players having shown their worth in big football, Dr Adams continued. He had no hesitation in saying that Australia would give a very fine account of itself on its British tour. “And although there may be a little pessimism in Australia with regard to the value of their team, I think it can be discounted when the brilliance of the 1938 New Zealand team is taken into consideration,” Dr Adams observed. "We know that comparisons are odious, but my own impressions and the actual results of the tour would suggest that this team would measure up with New Zealand’s best selections of the past. We had set backs, speedy from the scrum to the wings, and I question whether New Zealand has ever had a speedier set. Very pleasing was the brilliance of some of the young players, and if the selectors in New Zealand will keep their eyes on the young players during the next eighteen months, we may find some more equally good, and finally get a team for the South African tour which will uphold New Zealand football prestige.” ■ Dr Adams said Mitchell had been an ideal skipper in every way. Rod McKenzie had proved his worth as vicecaptain, and had improved as a leader. “We were very fortunate,” Dr Adams said,, “in not having one dud in the whole party of 26 players. Any player could be fitted in when and where he was wanted. The side set out to play fast and open football, and succeeded up to a point where its opponents had played right up on top of them. That forced changes of tactics, which sometimes meant playing back to the forwards. There were various changes in tactics, and with the forwards playing in with the backs it was found sometimes that when a try was scored from a combined attacking movement, there were several forwards still left over in position had they been required. The whole team playd well, and some members improved out of sight on the tour.”